2009 Stars & Stripes U12 Autumn Tournament – Week 5

Monkstown LTC vs Shankill

Well Played Everyone! The final night of this year’s Autumn Stars and Stripes passed off – I can’t say peacefully with what seemed like a thousand kids having a great time in the clubhouse for the presentation – but I can say very well!!

Monkstown LTC were playing Shankill and needed to win convincingly as the team were very likely to be pushed all the way by closest rivals Sandycove – which duly transpired! The Girls were up first at 5.30pm. Lucy Byrneand Siofra Watson were convincing 10-3 winners while Juliette O’ Flynnand Kate Doylecame back from 4 nil down to win 8-5. The final pairing of Caoimhe O’Connorand Sophie de Patoulproduced another very strong performance to win 10-3, making it a 29 -11 victory for Monkstown LTC. I must say it has been really great to witness the continuing improvement in the standard of the girls play throughout the competition – they really did get better and better with each match. This victory gave them a total of 132 points for the tournament which was the highest score for any girls team – 4 points ahead of Newtown Park. A really excellent result and well played all the girls!

While the boys were on court the Sandycove result came in – and it was very strong! They had beaten Elm Park by 64 points to 14. Quick calculations were performed and it emerged that Monkstown LTC boys needed 17 points from their 3 matches to ensure that the club won the overall award. Could they do it?? Yes they could!!!

Watched closely (a bit too closely on one occasion!!!) by top supporters in appropriately striped outfits (Juliette’s little brother and sister) Monkstown LTC no 1s David Cullen and Kyle Murraywon the first game convincingly 10-3. No 3s David Keaneand John O’Mahonywere even more dominant in their game winning 11 – 2 and no 2’s Harry Crossanand Mark Earleproduced the best match of the day with some great rallies and an equally great result – 10-3 winners. The boys won 31-8 to make it a convincing Monkstown LTC win and put the club at the top of the table winning the overall event by 15 points in the end. Very well played everyone!

In the boys only final again we had some great matches, but unfortunately Sandycove were just too strong on the night and won the match 24 – 15. The Monkstown LTC no 1 pair of Jack Stokesand Stephen Connollycame closest to winning just missing out by 7 games to 6. The no 2 pair of Gary Kellyand Gary Galvinwere in serious trouble early on but produced a great comeback and in the end it was a closely fought match, but Sandycove held on to win 8-5. The no 3 pairing of Patrick Byrneand Jack Hartnettwere suffering a bit from exhaustion after a gruelling day of GAA, rock climbing and archery, but nonetheless played very well and were narrowly beaten by 9 games to 4.

The overall results then were that Monkstown LTC were the overall winners, retaining the cup they won last spring, Sandycove boys won the boys subsection award and Newtown Park girls won the girls subsection. (Monkstown LTC were excluded from these categories as they had won the overall award). The presentation was lively (understatement – definitely need a microphone next time!!) and we were delighted that Stephen could join us as well as Judy and the Ladies captain and vice captain – Carol Kellyand Karen MacKenna. Special mention to Anne Crossanwho did such a great job in doing up the notice boards so that the club looked its best on the night, and to Seamus MacKenna, Karen’s husband who put together a brilliant DVD of photos from the Junior championship with music which we had playing in the background. Thanks also to all the parents who were so supportive and helpful and provided so much food for the gang on the night.